How Do Deaf People Think?

TL;DR

Deaf people primarily think in sign language, but those who learn vocal language through training can sometimes think in both sign and vocal language.

Transcript

Hello I’m Simon Whistler, you’re watching the Today I Found Out YouTube channel, and in the video today if you’ve ever wondered how deaf people think, in terms of their inner voice, well, you’re not going to wonder for much longer. Those who were born completely deaf and only learned sign language will, not surprisingly, think in sign language. Wha... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤔 Completely deaf people primarily think in sign language, while those who have some hearing ability may think in a combination of sign and vocal language.
• 🤔 Language, including sign language, is crucial for brain functions such as memory, abstract thinking, and self-awareness.
• 🙉 The lack of structured language can significantly impact the mental development of deaf individuals.
• 🙉 The oralist method of teaching deaf people solely vocal language has been phased out in favor of a bilingual education approach.
• 🙉 The research on bilingual education supports the importance of teaching sign language early to deaf individuals.
• 🤘 Deaf people who learn sign language have an easier time comprehending and using vocal language.
• 🧑‍🏫 Deaf individuals taught only vocal language struggle to develop an "inner voice" due to the abstract nature of the language.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do completely deaf people think in terms of their inner voice?

Completely deaf people who only know sign language think in sign language. Those who learn vocal language think in both sign and vocal language.

Q: Why is language integral to the brain's functions?

Language, including sign language, is crucial for memory, abstract thinking, and self-awareness. It drives much of the brain's core functions.

Q: How does deafness affect the brain compared to blindness?

Deafness has a more significant impact on the brain than blindness because of the importance of language to brain development. Without a structured language, deaf individuals can face learning problems.

Q: Why were deaf people thought to be mentally handicapped in the past?

Until the 1970s, it was widely believed that deaf people were mentally handicapped because of a decision made in 1880 that discouraged the use of sign language. However, this view has been proven incorrect.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Deaf people who were born and learned sign language think primarily in sign language, while those who learned vocal language through training can think in both sign and vocal language.

• Language, including sign language, is integral to brain functions such as memory, abstract thinking, and self-awareness.

• Deaf people who are not taught sign language or have access to it can experience significant mental handicaps due to the lack of structured language.